Erath runs special play to honor Martin

ERATH - With 8:18 to play in the second quarter, the Erath Bobcats football team ran a play to honor a student, who would have been a freshman this season.
Erath High senior tailback Elijah Mitchell scooted up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown.
When the play happened, few noticed the Bobcats had only 10 players on the field. A lineman was taken out of the game as a way to recognize Adontee Jamal Martin.
Martin died at the age of 15, in April. He was an Erath Middle School student, who had potential to be great on the football field as a freshman.
Good friend and freshman player Jagger Hargrave wanted to honor his friend somehow this football season. He approached head football coach David Comeaux this week with the idea of taking out a player.
The Erath coaches agreed. Before the Delcambre game, they informed Delcambre head football coach Marc Broussard and the referees that they were going to run the play in the second quarter.
When the time was right, they ran it to perfection.
“Adontee was going to be a player that we were counting on as a freshman. He was going to be a star,” said Comeaux. “He was something. He was an animal.”
Comeaux knew he wanted to make it a running play as a way to pay tribute to Martin, with Elijah carrying the football.”
After the score, Erath PA announcer Keith Lange explained to the crowd about the 10 players and how the team honored Martin.
Mitchell, who was Martin’s cousin, wanted to carry the football.
“It meant a lot to carry the ball in honor of him,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell finished the night on a good note. He only had eight carries but he made each one count. He finished the night with 285 yards, three touchdowns and did not play in the second half.
The game was over on Erath’s first play on offense. Mitchell took the ball and went around the corner for a 90-yard touchdown run.
On his third carry of the game, Mitchell darted 36 yards for a touchdown and just like that, Erath led 13-0 less than four minutes into the game.
The Bobcats cruised by Delcambre, 40-7.
With a 13-0 lead, Erath scored on its third straight series. On the drive, Erath mixed it up with pass and running.
Quarterback Mason Granger connected with Bren Faulk for a 20-yard gain.
On the next play, 7 yards from the goal line, Granger ran it into the end zone for six points
Erath led by 27-7 at halftime.
Erath will be on the road Friday to battle Catholic High of New Iberia.
Tyler led Delcambre with 99 yards on 8 carries. He had an 87-yard touchdown run.